Women

This is a difficult time with many crushing things happening to people. Yet, a new world begins with each of us. We have to lift ourselves up to revitalize and renew what we know is good. It is up to us to change the standards for leadership that will shape a new era. Even with all the problems we face in so many directions, there continues to be many signs of NEW HOPE emerging --- a new sense of OPTIMISM taking over little by little. Some days it seems we've stepped backwards and then another glimpse emerges to prove we are on our way.

We are realizing on many fronts how much we can do together to reshape the businesses, communities,and the world we long to have. It will ask more from us. We will have to change our ways. Cure our hatefulness toward others in a big way. Doing this isn't complex --- not really. Behavior and personal conduct at its root is individual, yes? It takes a simple conviction to a new mindset and a resolute belief that we can in fact recast our value and intentions as the final "yardstick" of all we do. How do we do this?

As I mention in my book and as its pages reflect, I have always received strength, knowledge and know-how from those who traveled before. The leaders, innovators, and sages seem to be whispering the answers to us from their lessons learned, if we stop long enough to listen. Gandhi, for example, helped us remember that each one of us has a responsibility to use our lives of a beacon of all we want for our world to be by our actions and behavior in day-to-day life. I re-read a passage from another timeless and beautiful book: A Higher Standard of Leadership: Lessons from the Life of Gandhi by Keshavan Nair (Berrett-Koehler 1997) that offered Gandhi's sage advice in these words:"We are all leaders. Each one of us is setting an example for someone else, and each one of us has a responsibility to shape the future as we wish it to be. But we must have ideals to guide our conduct if we are to make a positive difference."

The five distinctive qualities of leadership introduced in Putting Our Differences to Workreflect Gandhi's wisdom and offer a current day roadmap for leadership behavior and actions. Together, the five QUALITIES are a timely "yardstick" to help all of us --- leaders and innovators everywhere as we work to make our important contributions to a new kind of CHANGE, INNOVATION and prosperity based on reversing the human perils Gandhi warned us about. His wisdom is unfortunately putting us all to the test at this time in history. What we we took time to re-evaluate our thinking --- re-assessed our freedoms and subjected them to these an affirmative new vision that I think Gandhi believed would benefit everyone? Can you imagine the changes we would see.

Wealth with Hard Work | Pleasure withConscience | Science with Humanity Knowledge with Character | Politics with Principle | Commerce with Morality Worship with Sacrifice .

QUESTIONS to PONDER...How can we multiply that same kind of reality in our day-to-day living and working? What does it mean to put our differences to work?

What does it mean to you? What advice would you share with others to make it possible?

Have you noticed that what we need to solve our most pressing problems has been there all along? This is true with the powerful foursome of LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSION. Although there is plenty of evidence that we have found value in each of these individual diverse elements of both business and society, traditionally we've handled each of them separately in our work, in our lives, and our thinking—if not by our words and processes, then certainly by many of our visible actions, day-to-day practices, and behavior. We just don't commonly think about them together. One simple validation came to me when I wrote my book. I intentionally looked at dozens of books and studies in my research covering these topics. One observation I made was that although each book made important contributions to one or more of the topics, I didn't find one book that addressed the direct and important interrelationship of this powerful foursome of leadership, innovation, diversity and inclusion and how they work together.

In my independent, as well as collaborative research and practical experiments with my long-time colleague, futurist and filmmaker JOEL A. BARKER for over a decade, these conclusions have been affirmed over and over again:

* It is clear, leaders at every level, in any organization or community or family, need to learn to see DIFFERENCES differently. It is a key differentiator for the twenty-first century.

I've always thought Joel Barker summed up the "business case" best in his landmark film, Wealth, Innovation & Diversity: “Societies and organizations [and individuals] that most creatively incorporate diversity will reap the rewards of innovation, growth, wealth, and progress.”

INSPIRING A NEW GENERATIONRecently, I had an opportunity to lead an vibrant conversation on this topic of LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSION at a remarkable global online dialogue called Global Pulse 2010.It was inspired by President Obama and hosted by USAID in partnership with IBM. Over 10,000 people from over 155 countries attended. There were ten forum themes. The conversation, I led fell under Inspiring a New Generation. I personally had the chance to communicate with people from over twenty-five countries. There were so many meaningful points of view offered from around the world.

One of the memorable responses came fromFrances Hesselbein, President and CEO of the Leader to Leader Institute(formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management). She was also contributing at the online "jam" as a executive dialogue leader. Mrs. Hesselbein is well known for being one of the pioneering champions of making the essential connection of LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSION in her life, work, and leadership example. She offered some excellent actionable ideas in response to one of my questions...

What actionable ideas will inspire a new generation to lead and innovate?

Four Actionable IDEAS to Inspire a New Generation to Lead and Innovateby Frances Hesselbein

I agree with you that LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSION are a very powerful foursome. To address your question:

PROVIDE MEANINGFUL WORK:The workforce of the future was brought up in a fast-moving world. They had their fingers on the pulse of changing technology. They multi-task and enjoy a challenge. They need projects that utilize their knowledge and skills, that can connect with their philosophical or deeper ... interests. They will leave when they think the job has become meaningless or that they are no longer learning and growing.

RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK AND INCLUSION:This generation is considered the most open generation of all. Inclusion and diversity are a way of life. Millennials see themselves as part of a global community and believe that everyone belongs to this community. They want to be connected with teams at work and with customers. They are good at leveraging the efforts of others to achieve results and sharing rewards. If they are new to the workforce, it is important they are involved in teams where their contribution will be recognized and valued.

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD SOONER:This is one thing our military does very well. For example, Warren Bennis shares that he was 19 when he led his first U.S. Army Platoon in World War II in Germany. This experience showed him how critical it was to rely on his platoon members. Thrust into the situation, he learned that he needed to trust them to help him be their leader. Look for projects and assignments where Millennials have a chance to lead.

WE MUST FIND WAYS FOR MILLENNIALS TO SERVE SOCIETY:Being true to themselves equates to personal and social responsibility. They advocate to reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, rescue, and remember: Reduce their carbon footprint; reuse wrapping paper, clothes, and goods that are no longer useful to others; recycle paper, plastic, and aluminum cans; repurpose everything from pill bottles to entire rooms; rescue cats and dogs from shelters; and remember those around the world who need their support, their concern. We must find ways to support this deeply felt need to help others. This is the generation for whom, “to serve is to live.”

What ACTIONABLE IDEAS can you add to inspire a new generation?

What do you think?

Leadership | INNOVATION | Diversity | Inclusion at work...Join me and futurist Joel Barker ONLINE for Tactics of Innovation: How to Get Buy-In for NEW IDEAS Webinar - JUNE 3. It's a professional development webinar to. Learn more... WEBSITE: www.howtogetbuyinfornewideas.com

We continue to discover that DIFFERENCES have taken on a new SIGNIFICANCE, have you noticed? I'm not talking about the strife over race, political views, and reactions to change that hit the headlines. I mean the overwhelming number of organizations and individuals that are turning DIFFERENCES into notable achievements and business advantage all over the world. These distinctive leaders and innovators are proving again and again that putting our differences to work is the most powerful accelerator for generating new ideas, creating innovative solutions, executing organizational strategies, and engaging everyone in the process. Did you notice these are important "renewable energies" that fuel the engine of growth: INNOVATION.

What's new? The undeniable RESULTS are helping us learn the importance of SEEING DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY --- to take a fresh look at our previous limiting beliefs about ourselves and others. The traditional labels we paste on one another and sometimes on ourselves, don't begin the tell the complete stories of who we are, where the value lies in what we know, what we've experienced, how we think, the view of our generational perspective, how we solve problems and make decisions, and much more.While writing my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, even after years of extensive work and practice across cultures with the aim of closing the gap between mainstream businesspractice and diversity and inclusion, a new picture of our many dimensions of difference became clear. It was different than the traditional side-by-side interlocking puzzle pieces or mosaic motifs we often use to name our various diversities --- or even the interwoven tapestry idea symbolizing our integrated and interdependent realities.

What came to life was something complementary to these valued traditions --- let's call it a zoom-in view of the individual in the form of a wheel. This idea actually came with a sense of relief. As a business leader, I had always defied being pigeoned-holed into the one label ofwoman; especially when I knew many of the differences I brought to the table had just as much to do with leadership experience, thinking-style, how I solved problems, and the "culture" from which I was raised. Somehow I'm imagining most of you could tell a similar story of being labeled in some way.

We Are All DIFFERENTEach of us has many facets to our knowledge and know-how. Frequently, we work to minimize what's different---- "Look at all we have in common." "We are more alike than unalike." "Let's put our differences aside." These remain valuable truths, but when we stop there, we diminish all that makes us unique and different ---- and we often MISS the most important qualities and skills we possess as a whole innovative package -- a whole, wonderfully unique person. It is our broad set of DIFFERENCES that holds the "pot of gold." It is at the intersection of our many dimensions of difference where possibilities are rich, ripe for INNOVATION to emerge. Futurist and filmmaker, Joel Barker affirms this truth in my book and also in his new film, Innovation at the Verge. In both our collaborative and independent research and practical experiments together for over a decade, we've witnessed it and history has recorded it. ...and thereareadvantages for everyone!

A Global Business Leader's ViewRecently, I received an unexpected letter from Wendy Luhabe, Chancellor of the Universityof Johannesburg in South Africa. She wrote to express what she saw in concept of Dimensions of Differencepresented in my book. Because her opinion comes from a unique vantage point, which includes academia, business, corporate, and entrepreneurial global business leadership, I share her impressions with you:

"Putting Our Differences to work illustrates beyond any measure of doubt that the world has completely misunderstood Diversity--- that we are all unique and different for a purpose; that it is not traditional thinking or a particular intelligence or logic that will rescue us from the current morass; that the world needs leaders who both recognise that and who have the ability to tap into these differences --- to bring their own humanity to activate the same in others."

Case In Point:Concepts are best understood in practice and through the power of story. Sonia Melara crossed my path some years back. At the time, Sonia was executive director of the City and County of San Francisco, Department on the Status of Women. She had a powerful spirit and deep conviction to her mission. I spent a meaningful afternoon with her learning about her important work. What is most memorable about our time together was what I learned from her experience. She adds to this discussion through her story by putting the spotlight on why it is critical for us to learn to SEE DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY in each other.[Excerpt from Putting Our Differences to Work, Page 145]

"We are such a “melting pot”—and perhaps this is part of the problem of how we view ourselves. While we are a “melting pot” in terms of race, each of us is very unique as individuals, too. Sometimes, I think we forget that each person represents a distinctive part of our individual cultures. We are all different.

When I came here from El Salvador, I came with a belief I owed it to myself to succeed—and the best of all possible worlds here in the United States was where I could do it. In the process of pursuing my goals, other people from my own community would say, 'You don’t really know about prejudice. You don’t really see it.' Maybe I did experience it, and for a time I didn’t look at it. Over time, I have learned prejudice takes many unexpected forms. For example, when I was nineteen, I applied for the Teacher’s Corps to work with farmworkers’ children. I was interviewed and later received a letter that the reason they could not employ me was because I was not of Mexican descent and had no experience of the life of the farmworker. I remember thinking, 'What? I am a role model.' However isolated this example may seem, I think we might all be surprised to find we have common experiences similar to this, where we have been excluded by our own communities, regardless of our race."

KEY TAKE-AWAYS for YOU1. Putting our differences to work is the most powerful accelerator for generating the "renewable energies" we need to fuel the engine of growth: INNOVATION.

2. Perhaps we have long misunderstood diversity. Maybe seeing ourselves as a “melting pot” is part of our problem. When we see ourselves "melting" into sameness, we overlook that each person represents a distinctive part of our individual cultures and everything that makes us individually unique. The change we need today is to take a closer look at one another, valuing both our sameness and common ground, as well as, developing a curiosity that leads us to discover true value in our differences.

3. Mastering how to SEE DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY is the new collaborative advantage for leaders and innovators at all levels in the twenty-first century. Putting Our Differences to Work is both a personal and practical guide for leaders and aspiring leaders at every level. BOOK OVERVIEW [PDF]

Are you ready? What do you see from your unique vantage point?What insight or story can you share?

Could it be the notion of competitive advantageischanging? Yes! There are clear signs that the "dog-eat-dog" mentality and "guerrilla marketing techniques" once deemed a must, haven't created a sustainable economy for anyone. For good reasons, competitive advantage is being redefined from both lessons learned and new discoveries. Are you ready?

One indicator of this need for change now happening was described by IBM Chairman and CEO, Sam Palmisano in a visionary call-for-leadership speech in November 2008 after the election of President Barack Obama. It was presented in an address to the Council on Foreign Relations. He envisioned A SMARTER PLANET and described a new leadership agenda. He talked about this time we are experiencing this way: "...a period of discontinuity is, for those with courage and vision, a period of opportunity. Over the next couple of years, there will be winners, and there will be losers. And though it may not be easy to see now, I believe we will see new leaders emerge who win not by surviving the storm, but by changing the game."

So, who are these game changers? How can YOU be among them?What role does CURIOSITY play?

What we know for sure is that these new innovators are distinguishing themselves across all industries and sectors of business and society. In my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, I tell numerous stories to prove this point.These exemplary leaders are learning how to put diverse talents together to bring the world new levels of excellence and innovations, big and small, that are truly making a difference. Their actions and results call out to all of us to join them.

What these leaders appear to have in common is that they are mastering a new level of CURIOSITYabout others that is helping them ride the waves of change out in front of the rest. It is showing up in both organizations and in individuals across the globe that are discovering that putting our differences to work is the most powerful accelerator for generating new ideas, creating innovative solutions, executing organizational strategies, and engaging everyone in the process. Futurist Joel Barker established the rationale for this powerful truth in my book, "If you know how to utilize diversity, you can rapidly reap continuous benefits in innovation—both internal innovations that will make your organization better, and external innovations that your customers will clamor for."

In order to work at this level, I keep learning that it is essential to develop a much keener interest in people than we are used to having --- particularly in people that are different that we are. You've got to learn to look beyond the words on a resume, how someone looks, and seek to discover the full array of differences, knowledge, know-how, values, and unique talents that others possess. This means questioning our habits and learning to SEE DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY.

ASKING QUESTIONS HELPS YOU LEARN MORE:I've been regularly asking people in dialogues I've hosted to share one distinguishing quality they see in themselves as leaders and innovators. Every time, I am blown away by the unique ways we see ourselves. Initially, in these experiments, I only saw the wonderful opportunity that came from learning about others and in it seeing oneself perhaps better. "Ah, yes! I too have that quality."

However, in a recent discussion, on LinkedIn in a group called the LEADERSHIP THINK TANK, I asked a similar question, except this time, I added "...and how has [this distinguishing quality] benefited your effectiveness?" This added bit of genuine CURIOSITY, opened up a whole new realization about the limited ways we see one another when we only consider our biographical information. In this case, I was taken by surprise by the three leaders' that responded. I didn't know any of them before this exchange. What I learned about them I wouldn't have known without asking this deeper question --- and also experienced their individual willingness to openly share and explain. Even this said something about who they are as people and leaders. Here are excerpts from their LEADERSHIP responses:

Patience:It's a quality that I think is overlooked, even more so today than before with the pace at which business occurs these days. ...I have worked in industries known for hectic paces and it was there where I truly honed the virtue of patience. I believe that my ability to either slow a pace down to properly measure a response that is effective or to remove myself from an frenetic situation to gain altitude for proper analysis has allowed me to master many situations both personally and in business that others have been greatly challenged by.

Perseverance:In today's world full of uncertainties, as leaders, we face too many obstacles and barriers to attaining our vision and purpose. Without perseverance we will fail to make a meaningful difference. Perseverance is the quality that is required to face failure and then to get up again to lead the fight another day/week/month/year and win.

Being Focused: Being focused each and every moment, every day... is one of the key. If we are focused we will be able to know what we want, what is happening around us, how to lead people. If you are not focused, you tend to be tossed around by different opinions and other external factors.

THE VALUE OF CURIOSITY: A 21st Century DifferentiatorThree lessons were learned in taking in these leader's responses that I wanted to pass along to you:

1) Genuine curiosity broadens your insight about others. It's important to develop a genuine CURIOSITY about others; asking questions helps you see new dimensions about who they are that goes beyond what's on the resume. It also helps you see a new kind of insight about their knowledge, know-how, and approach to their important work.

2) Asking questions can help you identify unique talents. The power of the insight we gain when we do, seems to offer a glimpse into a person's thinking, experience, intentions, and values we miss otherwise.

3) Insight about others builds a reservoir of talent for collaboration. Learning more about others, helps you master the art of putting differences to work with teams, in seeing new opportunities for collaborations, and in identifying distinguishing qualities that may be needed for innovation with new partners and stakeholders.

"There is much serious work ahead of us, as leaders and as citizens.Together, we have to consciously infuse intelligence into our decision-making and management systems… not just infuse our processes with more speed and capacity."--- Sam Palmisano, IBM Chairman and CEO

May you be inspired to be more conscious about developing a genuine CURIOSITY about others. I leave you pondering how I plan to do the same.

The Internet has been a buzz over two exceptional talents: Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle. What can we learn from them about how important it is for us to develop an openness to see and experience DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY? What can these two talents teach us about ourselves?

First,Adam Lamberthas taken the American Idol competition by storm amidst an impressive group of this year's AIcandidates. Regardless of who you may be rooting for, it is hard to deny that Adam has in fact elevated Season 8 of this popular show to a whole new level with a incredible combo ofvoice + artistrywith his sure-to-dazzle-the-audience performances each week. This doesn't take away from the "talent factor" of other performers. They are all terrific. Adam Lambert is just bringing aunique portfolio of skillsand using it...every bit of it.Reportedly, nothing he is doing is left to chance, "My personal strategy with the week to week thing, ...I know I did well this week and so I'm setting the bar higher. How am I going to top that?' (KSFM interview) Ask yourself,When is the last time you asked that question after a long week at work?

His performance of "Mad World" brought Simon Cowell, the audience, and people (including me :-) across the world to their feet to cheer the second-to-none experience of watching "a new star" be born before our eyes, the likes we've not seen recently. It's not just the usual favorite "Idol" fixation either. Adam'smany dimensions of DIFFERENCEdrive people wild, bringing both the highest praise and not so uncommon controversy. If you've not seen him in action creatively cascading his capacity for artistic interpretation brought to life, check these out performances (Oh, go ahead...brave it; take a peek at something new and different):Black Or WhitePlay that Funky MusicMad WorldTracks of My TearsBorn To Be Wild (Easy Rider).

It's funny to watch us want to put our familiar labels on him in an effort to explain what we are seeing in him, instead of savoring what makes Adam Lambert unique. One's generational perspective seems to shape whether the stretch is to compare him to Zac Efron or Elivs. The Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedakarecently commented that he thinks Adam can take it all the way: "Adam is like a young Elvis, isn't he?" What's exciting is his broad appeal --- hmmm! here I am writing about him. The joy many feel about what Adam Lambert is giving us each week is fun to follow and personally experience. I admit, the kids in my life got me hooked on American Idol years ago and Adam has added a whole new element to it.

However, high performance that is resetting the standard rarely comes without some criticism in a world that values sameness. As we experience in day-to-day life, whether you're talking about your workplace, business, organizational life, music or society everywhere, high performing individuals seem to bring out a mean-spiritedness in some people --- maybe it's envy; maybe it's fear; maybe it's about them --- imagine that such brilliance, imagination, determination, raw, passionate talent can result in hate talk. We certainly witnessed it during the U.S. election, as an example and that excellence prevails. YEAH! The old behavior, still very present, begs the question, "what are we so afraid of when someone isn't just like us?" Now, there's a question worthy of our self-examination!

A similar reaction to DIFFERENCE in age and look with a kind of expected preconceived prejudice came out when Susan Boyle hit the stage on Britain's Got Talent. Simon Cowell, the other judges, and the audience seemed to find subtle (and not so subtle ways) to heckle Susan Boyle as she dared to share her dream to be an aspiring singing star at nearly 50 and saw "the door opening." With her far-too-long hidden talent, she has blown away millions of people around the world with her gift of VOICE. She showed us!!! Drove us to tears. ...and did you notice that once we're personally touched by someone DIFFERENT, all the barriers fall away? Nice!

LESSONS to LEARN from TOP TALENTPerhaps this leads us to question our own REACTIONS to DIFFERENCE and take in what we might learn from Adam Lambert, Susan Boyle, and others who have believed in their dreams enough to risk it all... Here are two compelling lessons to take away and apply to your own life, work, and organizations:

Lesson 1: INNOVATION IS FUELED WHEN YOU USE YOUR WHOLE "TOOLBOX"Interestingly, as I've read Adam Lambert's story, listened to his interviews, heard his parents reflect on his life, and watched him, it brought up the wisdom of Peter F. Drucker, the father of modern management. He wrote in The Post Capitalist Society, "Most of us, (perhaps all of us) know many times more than we put to use. We do not mobilize the multiple knowledges we possess. We do not use knowledges as part of one toolbox."Adam Lambert is one of the best examples I've seen in a long while of someone who has opened his carefully crafted "toolbox" at American Idol --- a collection which has been developed through years of passionately pursuing his dream since he was 10 years old --- built by hard work, struggle, risk-taking, triumphs, defeats, and resolute belief. He is showing all of us how to put our whole "toolbox" to use as he accumulates his masterful collection of performances. He describes his strategy this way: "I don't become a one-trick pony." My boss at IBM years ago coached me in a similar way about distinguishing oneself as a leader and innovator. He said, "You got to demonstrate over and over that you can 'change your spots.'"

Lesson 2: DIFFERENCES ARE ESSENTIAL TO INNOVATIONUnless things change; they stay the same. There is a truism I learned along the way. Both Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle prove this one. If you keep listening to the same ol' people, singing the same ol' songs, in the same ol' way, having taken the same ol' route to get there, you'll get something similar to what you already have. If you want to discover something new and different, you have to be open to someone emerging that breaks up the sameness. Once in a while, someone shows up to share their many dimensions of difference, and when we are open to it, they lift us up to see the things from a new perspective.

In my book, Putting Our Differences to Work: The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance, there is a compelling case for us to learn to see andexperience DIFFERENCES DIFFERENTLY, because it is at the intersection of differences where you'll find a rich source of INNOVATION. I also define Five Distinctive Qualities of Leadership to add to your personal portfolio if you want to develop a mastery for recognizing, appreciating, developing, engaging, and utilizing TOP TALENT. These aren't TRAITS. QUALITIES are different; they ask more from us. They don't come from worldly rules; instead they emerge from a resolute mix of VALUES and INTENTION.

The graphic above is the DIMENSIONS of DIFFERENCE wheel from my book. It helped me see how many differences each of us brings to any situation and it creates a mirror of what happens when all the DIFFERENCES are consciously made part of our distinctive "toolbox." We've all got lots of great stuff we overlooked and under-valued for a long time. We need to begin seeing ourselves and others with a powerful wide-angle lens without diminishing what makes us unique and different.

At this critical time in history, the world would benefit if we could: 1) develop a genuinecuriosity about others; 2) elevate the importance of not just what we have in common, but also what we bring that is unique and different; 3). strive formastery for putting our differences to work. We need to break old habits of hatefulness and envy --- and replace these detractors with an openness for what's new and maybe never seen before, even when it means we have to clear the way for others to walk ahead in the spotlight to lead the way. We have to see the good in others, so we can bring out the best in ourselves from what they teach us. Imagine the difference we could make in creating a better world than we know today.

So to Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle, I am grateful you showed up on my path. You've been in my thoughts and I am so happy to have learned from your example. May your individual journeys be blessed!

Welcome the unexpected...Watch for the uncharted path that bears your name.Lead the way!

MAY 19 - ONLINE DIALOGUE - You're Invited!CONNECTING for Success in Hard TimesHow can Business and Social Networking help you deliver a renewed PERSONAL BRAND, REINVENT how you present your work to others, and open up opportunities for COLLABORATION and INNOVATION? Join us to learn how. REGISTER at http://tinyurl.com/MAY19dialogue (NOTE: Allow a few seconds for the URL to open). No fees, but registration is required, so we can send the login information.

Most of us don't know the impact of our contributions. We are so busy living our lives; trying to overcome; perhaps, just surviving --- striving to achieve ---that we forget to take notice of our influence. What seems even further from our consciousness is taking note of what we are capable of doing together. Technology continues to put the spotlight on the powerful possibilities that emerge when we combine our talents. Bay Area Artist, Sally K. Greenhelps us see this in her moving "Life and Work" collection. She introduces the many dimensions of diversity that make up our human story---sharing some of the little known truths that have shaped our destinies. One of my favorites in the collection is her painting, "Street Music," inspired by a 1935 black and white photo of a blind street musician by Ben Shahn.

Sally shares the story of her painting and also tells how she happened to hear Bill Moyers' interview with Mark Johnson, the producer of a documentary about the power of music. The documentary, to be released in 2009, entitled Playing for Change: Peace through Music,is an global example of what we can do when we put our differences to work for the good of all. Here is one of the samples she shares, Lean on Me.

As we find ways to express ourselves, seizing new opportunities for collaboration on many fronts, it is clear that Gandhi's wisdom was right:

"It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in internal affairs. The machineries of governments stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another."

This said, it appears for the first time in many years, even amidst the deepening economic crisis and other overwhelming global challenges of our time, that the GREAT OPPORTUNITIES of our generation rest at our feet. Change is up to us. I witness the remarkable in every dialogue we hold. People do amazing things together.

What contribution will you make? It's a great question to be asking ourselves everyday.

RELATED Articles and Dialogues:

Online Virtual DIALOGUES: Come practice in these monthly opportunities for conversation and exchange of IDEAS. We are offering an "Economic Conversation Series" to help people get ready for the next great opportunity. Sign-up at Putting Our Differences to Work CENTER for DIALOGUE.

Economy Series: "Reinventing YOURSELF: Taking a Closer Look"CHANGE, UNCERTAINTY, HOPE and OPPORTUNITY rest at our feet. By popular demand and the continued economic crisis touching all of us, we are continuing our "what you can do" series, taking our ideas right down to specifics. Join me on December 9 as we take a closer look in our dialogue focused on YOU. Our global conversation will be seeded by an executive guest interview with Lane A. Michel...read on...

By putting our differences to work, the goal will be expand our exploration of the key questions below. In the process we'll be looking for "actionable specifics" and inspiration that you can take home and apply.

How can you make UNCERTAINTY an opportunity for personal and professional reinvention?

How can you make sure you use this time to ensure you are ready to bring your best VALUE to your organization, community, and the world?

What specific actions can you take to reinvent yourself?

My guest thought-leader interview will be with Lane A. Michel... Lane is a role model of work and life transformation. He is a devoted husband, father, and former policeman turned corporate Hewlett Packard executive, turned EVP for Quaero Corporation, turned entrepreneur. ...and there is much more to his story of reinvention to inspire you. I look forward to introducing him to you and know we will all learn from his insight and genuine way of being with others.

No fees, but registration is required, so we can send login information to you.

The time for change has come! With economic crisis and the unknown looming, have you thought about reinventing yourself to be ready for your next great opportunity? With this question in mind, my NOV 11 ONLINE DIALOGUE (free and open to the public) we will focus on Change, Gratitude & Reinventing YOURSELF.

Think of the major shifts in the world as we've know it that have happened just in the last month or so --- and all that is still ahead. Uncertainty is a fact of our existence at the moment, but there is something exciting about moving beyond the status quo, yes? Join me and others for our NOV 11 ONLINE DIALOGUE focused on YOU. The plan is to put our differences to work to explore possibilities, learn from each other, and answer these questions...

How can you make CHANGE an opportunity for personal reinvention? What role does gratitude play? What can you do to begin?

This month's Putting Our Differences to Work Online Dialogue is sponsored by our Women in the Leadprogram(WIL) at the Global Dialogue Center. Maureen Simon of Maureen Simon Consulting and contributing author from our Women in the Lead Inspiration BLOG, will be joining me. Our special guest interview is Gloria Young, President of Young & Lamay Associates. She will help us seed our conversation with her insight and inspiring journey.

If you're low on $$$, business is down, people are worried, and the future uncertain... What do you do? Economic crisis is relative. I remember a number of years ago, the exact day our budding business lost all its work, because a key client's stock plummeted when the Asian Market went into crisis and all consulting contracts were canceled. It was SCARY. We were all in a tizzy! Our reserves were scarce and payroll and survival were on our minds. We watched a few friends, also impacted by the crisis, charge big vacations to escape what seemed a doomed reality --- a kind "dying man's last feast." We decided instead to take what perhaps was "the road less traveled."

I would like to take credit for the idea that inspired our journey, but I actually learned the concept in "new employee orientation" when I went to work for IBM many years ago. Why I remembered it at that moment, I'm not sure, but putting its wisdom into action, changed the whole direction of our company. It also paid our salaries and took care of our families. More importantly, it put our company on the map. The inspiration came from a story about IBM's big break. It went like this:

During the Great Depression while most businesses were shutting down, Thomas Watson, founder of IBM, kept his workers busy producing machines even while demand was slack. Thanks largely to the resulting inventory of equipment, IBM was ready when opportunity knocked. They landed the "biggest accounting operation of all time" when the Social Security Act of 1935 was passed.

Are you ... and/or your organization ready for that next great opportunity?

For us, the decision was to skip the big vacation, roll up our sleeves, and reinvent everything about our business. We were unsure, but something inside told us that our investment would payoff. Just mobilizing into ACTION, helped us ignite a new kind of passion and fire about the future. It meant being willing to rethink our core business, recognize old stagnant ways, and re-evaluate what we could do. It also meant "growing some new brain cells" to upgrade our skills without money. We got technical and built our first website. The best part about it that by the time we we were putting the finishing touches on our reinvented business, we received a phone call from one of our best customers. They had a new and very different need and called to see if we could handle it. The changes we made put us in a position to be ready for this next great opportunity. The rest is history!

REINVENTING YOUR BUSINESSPutting Your Differences to WorkOver the years, we've helped individuals and organizations renew their businesses in the worst of times. Many of the ideas came from going through our own meltdown. Here are a few ideas to consider as we all prepare ourselves to deal with the unfolding economic crisis being felt across the world:

Strengthen relationships. Phone, email, meet with other business partners and other alliances. Use the time to explore creative possibilities of new ventures, joint contributions, shared resources. Work toward opportunities where "mutualism is the final arbiter" --- everyone benefits; no one is harmed --- a new standard for all decision-making that could change the world.

Re-Package Yourselves. Take a deep look at your organization together while you have a chance. Imagine what ways you might be able to re-position how you present your products or services. People want to do business with organizations that remain fully alive --- always working an idea and innovation a head of the rest.

Upgrade skills. Use self-pace in-house materials or the wealth of information on the Internet to build everyone's skills for future work. Keep everyone focused on increasing the value they bring to the organization. Check on free webinars and podcasts for learning on-the-go. TIP: Visit our Global Dialogue Center, a virtual gathering place with a focus on professional, leadership and personal development open and free to everyone. www.globaldialoguecenter.com

Become masters of putting differences to work. Read my book and follow its road map to prepare yourself, your team, and your business for the next great opportunity. Our world has changed. The landscape for leadership is as close as each individual sitting at their desk and as far-reaching as time, distance, and technology will take us. It is a diverse marketplace, workplace, and community --- and it is at the intersection of our differences that the new innovation resides. Make sure you know how to tap into it as a business advantage. Upgrade your perspective and the possibilities you hold in your hands.

Renew your organization -- make things better. Re-organize your work area. Re-evaluate and streamline processes and procedures to make it easy for others to do business with you. Review promotional and other informational materials to get them ready for updates. Update mailing lists, web site, and organization charts. Clean out file cabinets. Clear out the clutter. If your workspace is stuffed up with the past, there is little room for the new to come in. This takes the wisdom of a "beginner's mind" to the physical plane. Ensure your environment is set up to welcome the next great opportunity.

Design a new product or service. Anticipate the future. Knowing the existing situation, imagine what will be needed and begin to make preparations to deliver it. Use your own initiative, creativity, and experience as a replacement for R&D dollars.

REMEMBER...Great achievers of the future are those who can ride the waves of change...not those who sit on the beach waiting for the tide to change. Welcome the unexpected. Look for that uncharted path that bears your name. Prepare yourselves and your organization to respond to new opportunities---perhaps ones you can't imagine right now. Action ignities passion. Passion helps us envision our success. There is a magic in believing!Lead the way!

Join me on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 for Our Monthly Online Conversation10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. ET) - Informal Virtual Break follows. Held online the Putting Our Differences to Work CENTER FOR DIALOGUE (No fees - Use your USB headset and login). What's happening in your workplace?What's keeping you awake at night? How are you doing?What can WE DO ensure we are ready for the next opportunity?

The economic meltdown and great uncertainty are having a sweeping influence in the marketplaces, our workplaces, and on our lives. Whether you work for a company, own your own business, or are caught in transition, what could we learn from those who have made it through difficult times? How can you begin to see the possibilities. Join me to put our differences to work with others from around the world to explore current realities, learn from those that have "weathered big storms," look at WHAT YOU CAN DO to make sure you are ready for the next opportunity and ready to lead the way.

No fees, but you need to register to attend to get login info...click here Note:Allow a few seconds for the registration to come up.Login and audio info to attend will be sent to you via email.

Today in my monthly online Putting Our Differences to Work Dialogue, someone raised a couple of great questions for us to think about: With the U.S. Presidential Election marking major historical milestones for diversity, what opportunities are opening?How will it influence how the world views us? How will we reap maximum benefits for the good of all?Hmmm...? My special guest, Emily Duncan, former vice president, Culture & Diversity for Hewlett Packard and founder, Emily Duncan Consulting shared this perspective to seed our thinking:

"The election in the US is a study on diversity, because the message it will send around the world is that we have talent represented from all ages, both genders, cultures, and a person of color, running for the highest office in our government --- the talent that U.S. citizens will cast their votes on is diverse --- and I think it is a good thing. It will be important for all of us watching and participating in the elections to make sure that diversity doesn't get misused in the election either. One of the challenges that corporations always had with diversity when I was there, was bringing people into positions just because they are diverse, without ensuring they had the level of talent, skills, and experience to do the job. I think it is important that we don't let a person's gender, or race, suddenly become the sole reason they are chosen for a position. This election is giving all of us an opportunity to evaluate the strengths that these candidates bring to the table. ...We need to have an open dialogue and be able to openly say what we believe, so we can learn from other points of view. No matter what your party affiliation, this election has generated more conversation than any one topic I can remember. I think this is beneficial."

Even with Emily's prompting for conversation on these questions, you could tell most of us remain timid about openly talking about the "forbidden" topic of politics in a group of people we are just getting to know. However, you could feel that there were things hovering that people wanted to say. So we left thinking, which is good. What came up for me spoke to how the world ... and our even our children are viewing the election...

"LEADERSHIP" ON DISPLAY???? To me what diminishes the good in this historical election is the behavior we continue to allow and accept from our candidates --- and perhaps ourselves. I wonder what people across the world think when they watch the constant stream of half-truths, outright lies, mean-spirited distortions, bigotry, hatred, cheating, intentional withholding of truth and access, and complete lack of integrity sprawled across the television every day --- even from those claiming "country-first" and "hero." Where is leadership in these behaviors? How could what we are witnessing be classified to be patriotic to your country or as a global citizen? I don't know the answers, but it makes my heart ache, how you about you?

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." --- Thomas Paine, Common Sense 1776

What I know for sure is that the behaviors being put on display will not heal a nation, save a life, restore a family, help a neighbor, stop the greedy, eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, feed the hungry, or nurse our environment back to health. An exemplary leader told me once, "if you want to get something different, you have to do something different." With our country in crisis in many directions, two wars and rumors of wars with untold human costs, people is the most dismal existence needing our humanity, and the world crying for U.S. leadership to guide the resolution of our most pressing local and global problems, too many to recount---we banter about the frivolous, like who had the great tactical trick in the game of politics.

In my book, Putting Our Differences to Work, I introduce Five Distinctive Qualities of Leadership that will be necessary to leverage the best of our diverse world to create better organizations, communities, families, and heal our environment and perhaps our politics at the same time. If we all incorporated even #4 and #5 into our consciousness, we would certainly could begin to transform everything in our individual spans of influence:

Leadership Quality #4: Holds personal responsibility as a core value.Nelson Mandela affirmed, “With freedom comes responsibility.” It is a sense of personal responsibility that needs to be part of our portable portfolio that goes with us when we move from one job to another, to a new company or within an organization, out in the community, in our homes, or in some new region of the world. Putting our differences to work is greatly enhanced when personal responsibility is a common thread woven tightly into everyone’s fabric.

Leadership Quality #5: Establishes mutualism as the final arbiter for all behavior and decisions.This quality builds upon its definition: a doctrine that mutual dependence is necessary for social well-being. It is also essential for organizational well-being. So, this quality applies this concept to all aspects of work and life in all types of organizations, institutions and entities. It creates a new definition of success that has a clear “yardstick” that serves as the final arbiter of all plans, innovations, decisions, products, services, programs, profit-making, et al: Everyone benefits and no one is harmed. In other words, it creates win, win, win – I win, you win, we all win. Building the future on a foundation of mutualism changes everything we do.

Join me for an Online Leadership Dialogue next Tuesday, September 9, 2008 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET) to 11:15 a.m. PT (2:15 p.m. ET) at our Global Dialogue Online Conference Center. This month my SPECIAL GUEST is Emily Duncan, former vice president, Culture & Diversity, Hewlett Packard and president, Emily Duncan Consulting. No charge. Register here (allow a few seconds for the registration page to open). Emily left an enduring leadership legacy at HP in putting differences to work across the world. She is a visionary leader with a flair for connecting with people. She will join me in an interview to seed our conversation with others around the world, sharing lessons from her leadership journey. Ask questions. Share your story. Informal "virtual break" follows.

Emily is also one of the exemplary leaders highlighted in my new book, Putting Our Differences to Work: The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance. She described her experience in reflection:

"When I joined HP, diversity and inclusion were new ideas, which we didn't fully understand. Later, we worked together to put meaning behind the words at HP. Then we boldly forged the uncharted path that resulted in diversity and inclusion being buisness priorities for the company across the world."

From the time I started writing my new book, I wanted to create the opportunity for readers and believers in this mission to have a place to tell stories, to share experiences, to problem-solve, and most of all, to experience and practice the art of putting our differences to work --- consciously --- first-hand.

Today, I held my first in an ongoing series of Putting Our Differences to Work DIALOGUES. These one-hour conversations, held at my online Center for Dialogue at the Global Dialogue Center Conference Center, are designed for sharing your perspectives and discussing your issues, in a small, intimate virtual setting. Learn more and sign-up.

It was a small gathering, representing many differences. With just five of us, we represented different geographic perspectives: Canada, Germany, China, East Coast and West Coast United States. We also reflected the lives of corporate project manager, graduate student, writer, entrepreneur, and consultant --- and many other dimensions of difference.

In just one hour, we got a glimpse into who we are, where we had lived and worked, and shared thoughtful perspectives with one another on the topic of INCLUSION --- giving each of us something to take home. Here is a summary of some of the themes:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INCLUDED?

Having a sense of belonging.

Having access to all of the "gifts" of life.

Belonging in a way that taps into the soul of who you are.

Inclusion is both an environment you create and an attitude you carry with you.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO CREATE A "CULTURE OF INCLUSION" WHEREVER WE GO?Two themes from the group about their personal practices... (paraphrased)

Cultivate non-judgmental listening."I found this worked as I transitioned from a Corporate career to my own business. The big challenge was learning self-management. Learning to listen has helped invite customers in the process. I discovered I didn't have to be the one talking all the time."

Purposeful listening and also broadening your awareness of the diversity of others. "I ask myself how can you lend a voice to help bring others into the process."

Listening and showing respect are important --- but involvement matters too. "We need to go beyond listening and respect. We have take time to learn enough about each other, so we can see the value and help each other get involved."

LEADERSHIP FOR INCLUSION IS EVERYONE's JOBAs we continue to realize the implications of the changes in the landscape of leadership being as local as sitting at our desks and as collaborative as time, distance, difference and technology can take us, we all recognized that INCLUSION is not optional. Diversity is the reality of our world today and INCLUSION is the essential ingredient that "fuels" the best in all of us. It enables and accelerates the generation of new ideas, innovation, change, and growth. You can have all the diversity you want, but without a welcoming culture of inclusion for us all to grow and contribute, diversity can create chaos as we witness all around the world.

We agreed that we can't afford to have anyone opt-out from assuming the role of being leader of inclusion. With all the change that is needed in our organizations, corporations, communities, and the world, we have to recognize what Nelson Mandela reminded us in his book, Long Walk to Freedom: "With freedom comes responsibility." We all own making INCLUSION on every level part of our collective consciousness.

REFLECTIONS ON AN HOUR WELL-SPENTBefore we left our time together, we all shared one thought in reflection about the value of showing up for a conversation with new found friends different than us.

I am leaving with a sense of possibility...

I have conversations like this in my day-to-day work, but it was inspiring to learn from others from diverse places and careers, outside my work, discovering they too have passion about the idea of inclusion and putting our differences to work. I feel hopeful.

Fabulous conference. ...I am very uplifted with the like minds who attended. One by one we will make differences work.

I learned a lot from listening to others;I like to share stories and find it very inspiring to hear others.

What thoughts do you have on the topic of INCLUSION to add to these?

The next Putting Our Differences to Work Dialogue is Tuesday, August 12. Learn more...